Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Wednesday 11/22 A.M. Quickie:What are YOU Thankful For?

This year it's easy: I'm truly thankful for all of you who were readers of the Quickie who followed me over here to the new blog. I can't begin to express my appreciation, and I hope you've enjoyed reading (and interacting) as much as I've enjoyed putting it together every day. Now, with that out of the way, in the Comments section, I'd like to hear your nominations of what in the SPORTS world to be thankful for. (And, yes: Clever trumps earnest.)

It's always fun to see the "extreme outlier" voters. This time, it was Joe Cowley from the Chicago Sun-Times, who voted Jeter 6th. When he next visits New York, he'll either get a punch (from Yankees fans) or a free drink (from everyone else). Check out this must-read voter analysis from FanIQ.

Is anyone really surprised that T.O. would refuse to send a get-well message to Donovan McNabb?

What does it say when it's news that the Giants aren't going to bench Eli Manning?

College Hoops: Marquette beats Duke. File that away for next March. This Marquette team was underrated, and Duke was... well, Duke was ranked like Duke. But it's a young team not yet ready for prime time. Marquette should be in the Top 10.

Plus: GA Tech beats Memphis, to face No. 5 UCLA tonight. When Tech beats UCLA and becomes everyone's favorite "young team to break out," just know that you and I were already there last week.

(No. 1 Gators win 94-33: I watched this on ESPN Full Court, and it WAS as ridiculous as the score implies.)

NBA: Sizzling Mavs win 7th in a row. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of my Wiz. I'll be home in D.C. for Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll swing by Gilbert's house to try to cheer him up. Plus: Is Kobe ready for an explosion? Scores season-high 40 in win over rival Clips. Plus-plus: Rising prep-to-pro JR Smith has career-high 36 in Nuggets win, which should completely mystify both his fans and haters alike.

The best position to be in? The top remaining free agent available in an exceptionally frothy MLB hot-stove market. Carlos Lee is going to get p-a-i-d by someone. The O's, Phillies and Astros are hot for him.

CFB Awards Finalists: For the Doak (Top RB), give my vote to Arkansas' Darren McFadden, who should be getting more Heisman love. For the Thorpe (Top DB), any choice other than Florida's Reggie Nelson is insane. Obviously, I'm biased, but I've never seen a better defensive player ever.

OK - thankful for my Steelers SB XL win, even if I'm suffering karmic payback this season. I'm thankful for the Penguins finally collecting enough very high draft picks after four years of being horrible to be a good team. I'm thankful for Joe Paterno and hope he either recovers or uses his broken leg as a good excuse to give Tom Bradley the job. I'm thankful that being stuck in Houston the teams here are still bad enough that I can enjoy hearing the fans groan after another blown game ;-) (I know that's wrong, but it's fun). I'm thankful for Gregg Easterbrook, Peter King, Football Outsiders and yes, Dan Shanoff.

Sorry it's not that clever. All you guys have a great holiday, enjoy your after dinner football and nap!

It is an absolute crime that Daymieon Hughes is NOT on the Thorpe finalists list. But let's think about why...hmmm...player at Michigan, player at Florida, player at Texas...player at Cal?!...wait...Cal doesn't play football does it? He's the definition of a lock down corner and will probably be the first corner taken in the draft, yet he's not even a finalist. PATHETIC!

I am thankful for NIU offensive coordinator John Bond, who managed to ruin a potential Heisman Trophy for RB Garrett Wolfe by refusing to modify his offense to prevent the "eight-in-the-box" schemes that prevented Wolfe from leaving the backfield.

It would have really, really sucked to see Garrett at the Heisman ceremony, so I am glad that Bond did what he could to prevent that from happening.

Why is FLA playing Prairie View A&M. I know you need to play a few cupcakes, but this os one of the worst teams in THE WORST conference in Division I, the SWAC.

I'd like someone to talk about freshman Daequan Cook of OSU who is averaging 18.0 ppg in 23 minutes! That is beyond sick! Oh and "throw-in" Mike Conley Jr has a 2.8 to 1 assist-turnover ratio. Even without Oden this team can compete with anybody in the country. When Oden comes in, it's going to be scary.

I am thankful for the Dolphins 3-game winning streak and the high comedy of Joey Harrington leading them to a win over the Lions on Thanksgiving Day!

My favorite part about all this MVP stuff is that Jeter doesnt care - yeh it would have been nice, and he would have liked it, but all the guy cares about is winning championships...and he already has four and its still all he cares about.

Everyone lets their morbid hatred of the yankees take away the fact that Jeter was easily the first or second best player in the AL last year - no contest, he put up monster numbers (just because he didn't hit home runs doesnt mean he doesn't produce - he produced the most runs out of anyone in the AL last year {RBIs+Runs-HRs}) he played gold glove short stop - like it or not, he did, and he led a team that was injury plagued and couldn't pitch its way out of a paper bag to the top of their division with clutch hitting and, yes, leadership. Just because you all hate the yankees (just like that idiot - and i mean huge idiot Cowley (or whatever the hell his name is) doesn't mean you should screw a guy who had a monster season.

I am thankful that all my beloved sports teams, either through geography growing up (Yankees, Giants, Rangers) or through alma mater (Notre Dame) are despised and detested by everyone on this blog so I can have something to fight about during a long day at work...

Sports world – I’m thankful for Bill Simmons, the best Sportswriter in the business. I’m thankful for David Stern – single-handedly saving the NBA. And I’m thankful for athletes like Gilbert Arenas (is there anyone crazier?), LaDanian Tomlinson (who calls himself LT when he’s not LT, he’s LDT), and Curt Schilling (let’s play celebrity jeopardy!). Finally, I’m thankful for idiot announcers, like Joe Buck and Bill Walton, who turn every game into an unintentional comedy stand-up act (“that was DISGUSTING, Randy Moss” “Throw it DOWN, Big Man!”)

I'm thankful that Jeter didn't win the MVP. He is on a team full of All Stars. No one on the Yankees should ever be MVP.

I'm thankful for watching commercials on Sunday afternoon. It's strange, they happen to show clips of football every once in a while.

I'm thankful for Dusty Baker and his amazing managerial skills.

Ok, in all seriousness, I'm thankful for my family, my friends, my job, my school, and most of all, I'm thankful for my fiance. She's an amazing woman that I don't deserve but somehow I managed to be with her.

Have a great Thanksgiving guys. Enjoy the commercials Thursday afternoon!!

I just learned yesterday that my wife's grandfather has been deemed cancer free. As of 4 months ago the doctors wanted to cut out his colon and he was faced with living with a colostomy bag for the rest of his life. He opted to pass on the surgery and go with some treatment that would slow the cancer and avoid going down that road. Lo and behold, he gets checked out yesterday and the cancer is completely gone. I know DS wanted sports related here.. but that's too f'n awesome not to share!

I'm thankful for an Apple Cup win. hey, we the Dawgs may have watched a once promising season go downhill, but at least they salvaged something by winning in Pulman (and possibly knocking the Cougs out of a bowl).

I am thankful for the 74" base at Mt. Baker. May it double by the time I get back home for Christmas.

I may be thankful for the return of Matt Hassleback and Shaun Alexander... I'll check back after a game or two.

I'm thankful for the internet and my dish which allows me to follow my teams from 3,400 miles away.

i am thankful for the Tribune Company willing to let Cubs fans suffer by not opening up their coffers for 20 some-odd years to field a winner; yet now that it appears they may sell the team and won't have to pay for the multi-multi-multi million dollar contracts they are throwing out during this off season.

Thank-you Tribune Company for taking the time to spend the money only when you know that you won't be the one who has to foot the bill.

A somewhat UNBIASED article/column/blog from Dan. Obviously we all have our favorites, but come on dude. Nelson as best defensive player ever??? He's good and I think he deserves the award this year. But EVER? Did you watch college football before 2006?

Why is everyone knocking UCLA?!?! The only piece lost from last year's team is Farmar, and his replacement, Collison, might be a better. I'll admit he's not as good of a passer (though has 24 AST in 3 games), but he's faster and has a better shot (13.7ppg). Everyone is also overlooking the return of Josh Shipp who sat last yer with an injury and has added 13ppg of his own. I expect a DQ apology Wednesday night when the Bruins win the Maui Invitational.

I think Reggie Nelson might be the best defensive player every to come out of UF, but ever? Not just yet.

For those who need some names of other UF Defensive players:

Jack YoungbloodWilbur MarshallJevon KearseAlex BrownLito Sheppard

Nelson will be a force the NFL, could be an Ed Reed type safty in a few seasons.

I'm thankful for him being in our defensive backfield.

Also Thankful that I get to go home to Florida this weekend to not only 70s with sunny skys, but see all my friends and family. Then watch the Fins win Thursday, the Gators win Saturday (at noon and 11pm; gonna be a LONG day).

I'm thankful for Steve Nash, Joe Thorton, Justin Morneau, Georges St. Pierre (MMA is the REAL fastest growing sport in the world, not NASCAR!) and all the other great Canadian world-class athletes who put smiles on our faces up here in Canada

I'm thankful for the love and support of my family during the last nine years after enduring a life changing disability.

I'm thankful that my Marquette Warriors (I will never accept the Golden Eagles. There have been many cultures that have produced warriors, not just NA's) beat Duke and are relevant again after D-Wades departure.

I'm thankful that my Packers found out how brittle and ineffective Aaron Rogers is (breaking his foot on a rollout?). That and the fact that Jed Tedford has yet to furnish the NFL with a quality QB.

I'm thankful for the fact that is probably going the last year of the Bret Favre era. Pack it in, Bret, you've got left to prove even if you don't break Marino's TD record. I don't want you to suffer the ignominy of being the all time leader in interceptions.

I'm thankful that Morneau won the MVP, Mauer the batting title and Santana the Cy Young. Now if the Twins had Liriano for next season..... just wishful thinking.

Manada, you're Canadian, be loud and proud. I've been fortunate to have been able to make 30 fishing trips up there since 1978, the last three in a wheelchair. Canadians are some of the nicest and most polite people I've ever met in my life.

I hope everyone here has wonderful Thanksgiving. Eat until you explode if you must. Me, I just want to stay awake after dinner.

-Jimmy Tressel and my beloved Buckeye football team-My healthy family and friends-My wonderful son-The win my high school alma mater had Saturday night with 33 seconds left to put them in the state championship game for the first time

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.